2023-06-02 11:10:35
image source,Bi-khim Hsiao
Hsiao Mei-qin, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, and Ingrid Larson, executive director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), signed the first batch of agreements at the AIT headquarters.
Taiwan’s Executive Yuan announced on Thursday (June 1) that it signed the first batch of agreements with the United States under the “Taiwan-US 21st Century Trade Initiative”. The Taiwan side said that this is the phased result of the largest and most comprehensive trade negotiation between Taiwan and the United States since 1979.
Beijing immediately stated that it has always firmly opposed any form of official exchanges between countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and hopes that the United States will stop sending any wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
What exactly did the initiative achieve?
image source,Bi-khim Hsiao
Taiwan Executive Yuandisclosethe first batch of agreements signed includes 5 topics including customs administration and trade facilitation, good legal system, domestic regulations for the service industry, anti-corruption, and small and medium-sized enterprises, plus 7 topics that will be negotiated in the future, including labor and environment , agriculture, digital trade, standards, public sector, non-market policies and practices.
The Economic and Trade Negotiation Office of the Executive Yuan revealed the expected future negotiations between the two sides.11 topicsfor more details. For example, in terms of trade facilitation, the two sides will discuss issues such as speeding up customs clearance procedures and electronic payment.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said that following the negotiations are completed in succession in the future, it will help promote fair competition in the market, make information transparent, reduce business transaction costs, and bring more development opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. It will also help Taiwan’s economy and development. The industry has entered the international market more smoothly.
Taiwan’s National Development Council stated that the signing of the agreement can promote coordination and cooperation between Taiwan and the United States, create a fair environment, and help attract foreign investment and increase trade opportunities.
“We thank our partners in Taiwan for helping us reach this important milestone and look forward to upcoming negotiations on additional areas of trade,” said USTR spokesman Sam Michel.
Judging from the content announced so far, the initiative has not changed the commodity tariffs between Taiwan and the United States, and the focus of future negotiations will not include items such as market access commodities that are usually involved in trade agreements. Most of the completed and upcoming negotiations mainly involve trade facilitation measures, legal docking, labor and environmental protection. However, some supporters pointed out to the media that it will help strengthen the economic ties between Taiwan and the United States, open more American products to Taiwan, and reduce red tape for American companies to export products to Taiwan.
image source,Getty Images
China responded fiercely
Regarding the agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning warned Taiwan and the United States on Thursday.
Mao Ning said that China has always been firmly opposed to any form of official exchanges between countries that have established diplomatic relations with the Taiwan region of China, including negotiating and signing any agreements with sovereign meaning and official nature. She said that the relevant actions of the US seriously violated the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiques, and also violated the US commitment to maintain only unofficial relations with Taiwan. China has lodged solemn representations with the US many times.
“The United States should stop any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, refrain from negotiating and signing agreements with the Taiwan region of China that have sovereign connotations and official nature, and refrain from sending any wrong signals to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces in the name of economics and trade,” Mao Ning said.
On Friday (2nd), Mao Ning further stated: “The so-called “initiative” is nothing more than a ‘baton’ for the US to seize Taiwan under the guise of economic and trade cooperation. “Self-interest, betraying the vital interests of Taiwan compatriots and enterprises, and “harming Taiwan” and “selling Taiwan” are the latest examples of the one-China principle being hollowed out by the United States.”
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